Below are several responses that we thought summed up the Week 2 chat well, covered themes, or contained thought-provoking questions or comments.

Feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments section of this post or on Twitter (clicking the date at the bottom of each tweet will take you directly to that tweet on Twitter’s website). You can see the full conversation by searching “#AgBookClub” on Twitter.

Q1: What’s one thing that’s jumped out at you in this book so far? Likes or dislikes?

A1: I feel like the first two sections have practically covered everything, so I’m wondering what’s left for the last half of the book. 🤔

Q4: Do you think a widespread agricultural shift similar to what Borlaug brought about would work better or worse today than it did in the 60s? What’s different now?

A4: Worse, and that’s because of the divide in opinion on food-related topics. I think there would be more public outcry. And the argument that the US should step up exports instead given the current state of depressed crop prices. #AgBookClub

Q5: Is feeding the ever-growing population still the top concern in agriculture today? What, if any, issues take higher priority in your book?

Q5: On p76, Borlaug refers to the growing world population as the “population monster.” Is feeding the ever-growing population still the top concern in agriculture today? What, if any, issues take higher priority in your book? #agbookclubpic.twitter.com/5v0zoIvIvF

A6: I think we’re talking different things here. Borlaug’s wheat was one of the first crops that were fertilized & met a need. Farmers kept pushing that input for further success. Now we’re trying to find the right balance for environmental and financial success. #AgBookClub

Join us for Week 3 of our March read, The Man Who Fed the World, on Wednesday, March 21st. We’ll be discussing pages 105 – 169 (chapters 8 – 13). See the reading schedule here. If you’re never participated in AgBookClub before, please jump right in! We’d love to have you join us!